“Put in the donkey!” cried Laura, at this point of the first singing. “Please put in the donkey!” So the mother went on,—
“The little donkey in the stable
Sleeps as sound as he is able;
All things now their rest pursue,
You are sleepy too.”
It was with this song sounding softly in her ears, and with the beautiful hand, like soft warm ivory, stroking her hair, that Laura used to fall asleep. Do you not envy the child?
Maud’s songs were perhaps the loveliest of all, though they could not be dearer than my donkey-song. Here is one of them:—
“Baby with the hat and plume,
And the scarlet cloak so fine,
Come where thou hast rest and room,
Little baby mine!
“Whence those eyes so crystal clear?
Whence those curls, so silky soft?
Thou art Mother’s darling dear,
I have told thee oft.
“I have told thee many times,
And repeat it yet again,
Wreathing thee about with rhymes
Like a flowery chain,—
“Rhymes that sever and unite
As the blossom fetters do,
As the mother’s weary night
Happy days renew.”
Perhaps some of my readers may already know the lovely verses called “Baby’s Shoes.”
“Little feet, pretty feet,
Feet of fairy Maud,—
Fair and fleet, trim and neat,
Carry her abroad!